When did Venezuela first declare independence from Spain?

Venezuela officially declared its independence from Spain on July 5, 1811, when its national assembly formally issued the declaration.1

Prior to this, on April 19, 1810, a junta had already been established in Caracas after the Spanish governor was deprived of his powers and expelled from the territory. While some earlier attempts at independence occurred—such as a proclamation by Venezuelan Creoles in 1797 and efforts by Francisco de Miranda in 1806—these did not result in the formal establishment of a lasting independent nation.12